One Day....is next week! It's actually happening!

[Andrea]

Dreams can come true. My husband Franc and I are about to take off for an absolutely amazing journey. A once in a lifetime opportunity and all for a wonderful cause. We are set out to make a difference in the world greater and larger than anything we could have imagined. We are two people set out to make two of our dreams come true, together.

It started with a twinkle in our eyes and the conversations always went like this, "One day...". That one day was always a day that we thought of - perhaps after retirement or after we had kids - either way, this one day was not ever so close. As I sit here and write this, that one day is actually happening and it is next week!

After the decision was made, it has been a whirlwind. I asked my boss for a personal leave of absence for a year and he could not have been more supportive. He approved it the same day and by the end of the week I had the final approval from corporate as well. This was an extremely tough decision to come to and then a very tough conversation to have out loud. You think about everything you want to say, you practice but when it comes time to say it out loud, it becomes a reality. Yes Andrea, you are putting your career on hold. Everything you have done, every daily routine you have, everything you have work so hard for in your career will be on hold for one year. One year. Having this conversation out loud and hearing myself say it was quite surreal and impactful. It is a day that I will not ever forget. I bet it's one that my boss will never forget either. It's not every day that someone on your team approaches you for a year off to sail the world in an effort to raise money for charity: water. They set up a website for us for our special project - Sailforwater.com.

Franc and I then put the wheels in motion and starting packing up our lives. We started reaching out to our friends and family for the Bon Voyage party, we had a meeting set up with the charity, last minute errands and shopping, .... we had so much to do!

In one week, that One Day will be here…

[Jake Mehl]

awsome!!! So glad you two are doing it! My wife and I are planning on taking off for a year staring fall 2010! it is a crazy thought to put careers on hold, but I am sure when you are back in the working world, every day on the water will have been well worth it!
The life of a sailor steers a wandering course...

[YACHTASEA]

We are thinking of you! XOXO
Kathryn, Christopher, Kate, C Jr, & Leigh Olson
YACHTASEA
SRYC NJ
Wish we could be there to photograph you & your venture!